Why I No Longer Visit My Friends

I just finished watching this speech by Stephan Molyneux. I had glossed over it several times before because I figured it would simply be a repetition of older, more refined videos he does in shorter segments. I’m glad I got bored tonight and decided to give it a try. It was not only new material, but had good audio and a poignant message.

I don’t want to spoil the content of the video by writing too much about it here. But I would like to give you a small anecdote about how I’ve already applied this in my own life.

Over the last two years I have greatly distanced myself from nearly all of my friends. There are very few people I currently enjoy having as a part of my social life. My wife and I live with my two parents. That’s three people I see every day and because I labor at a computer I rarely have much reason to go out. And while many people might find a similar prospect unbearable, I can assure you I am as content as one could ever expect to be. This is because the three people in my life are three of the most amazing people I’ve ever met and I truly enjoy their company day in and day out.

Both of my parents are on board with anarcho-capitalism and are also highly outspoken in their views within their own social circles. Needless to say, I have the full support of my family in my views and actions.

There is only one friend I see on an infrequent basis whose moral philosophy I respect. We are separated by some distance but he is the only friend I have who is also an anarchist. The rest of my longtime friends either share nothing in common with my morality or stumbled over the rabbit hole long ago but instead decided to take the blue pill.

Quite some time ago, as I began separating myself from my friends, I was often scorned for no longer wanting to go out and have a beer or watch movies and play games. What I hadn’t quite realized at the time, but that I do now, is that I simply did not want to partake in these festivities with them. As a matter of fact, while I was briefly in New Hampshire a few months ago I was fortunate enough to savor an extremely fun and healthy social life with fellow porcupines whom I had just met and whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. It is for that reason, more than any, that I am motivated to move to New Hampshire; the longing I have to be with friends that I can respect morally and philosophically.

After you’ve finished this video, please comment to the rest of us your thoughts on his proposal. I’m interested in the opinions of both anarchists and statists alike.

4 Responses to “Why I No Longer Visit My Friends”

Yeah this is one of my favorite vids of his. I enjoy seeing him speaking in front of crowds.

He really nails the source of the state in this one. Personal Emancipation from those around us that want to keep us in the ‘box’ is the way to go. Some of my friends and family members have listened and taken to heart what I have had to say, while others have not. I have been pruning my interaction with those who are diehards and increasing the frequency of time spent with those who are sympathetic.

An example was other day my Daily Anarchist mug from Zazzle arrived. My mom saw it and it shocked her and she said “I’m not sure if its safe to drink out of it” with a lighthearted jest. At which point, I was able to really bring home the individual sovereignty and non-aggression principles without using those terms.

The message stuck and we proceeded to have a conversation about how the cops aren’t officers of the peace and are more dangerous than the ‘is lame’Os’, and how my family lost the farm because of state thievery.

We have to be a blazing flame of liberty to those around us so that time spent near us cauterizes the bleeding ulcer of statism in their minds. We can win the argument, not by talking, but by being more trustworthy, honest, and polite than the statemongers.

Thanks for posting this, Anarchy has always been plagued with this evil aura. I find it funny that as people dive further into understanding what freedom and liberty are you eventually end up here. August – I love the example about the Declaration of Independence. I attempt to present to people that our country was founded on anarchist views. The individual is the power, the state is never the answer – They will simply offer you half baked solutions 9 out of 10 times that are based on lies. We truly can unravel the “spire of the state” by coming together horizontally and realizing that there is no state.